Classification of Computer

According to Capacity
 The term “capacity” refers to the volume
of work or data processing capability a
computer can handle. Their performance
judge by the:
1. amount of data that can be stored in
memory
2. speed of internal operation of the
computer
3. number and type of peripheral devices
4. amount and type of software available
for use with the computer
 The capacity of early generation
computers were determined by their physical
size – the larger the size, the greater the
volume.
In the computer terms, size and speed of
operation are at the present proportionate to
each other.
Generally, though, recent technology is
tending to create smaller machines, making it
possible to package equivalent speed and
capacity in a smaller format.
 Today’s miniaturization of most computer
components made significant improvements
in capacity.
Capacity is currently measured by the
number of jobs (or applications) that it can
run rather than by the volume of data that it
can process.
With this criterion in mind, computer
systems are classified as microcomputers,
mini computers, mainframe computers and
super computers.
Classification According to Size
MICROCOMPUTERS
They are the smallest general-
purpose computers. They are about
the same size as of Typewriter, they
contain a small CPU, normally called
a microprocessor.
MICROCOMPUTERS

Radio Shack TRS – 80

MINICOMPUTERS
They are like small mainframes,
They consist of an few separate units
connected together. They can be also
maintained and operated by people
who are not computer experts. They
can process information at the rate
of 4 million bytes per second.
MINICOMPUTERS
MAINFRAME COMPUTERS
They are medium or large machines ,
made of several units connected together .
Mainframe computers are generally used
in big organizations and government
departments for large-scale date processing.
Their processing capabilities vary from
computers to computers ranging to million of
bytes per second.
i.e. ATM Machines
MAINFRAME COMPUTERS
SUPER COMPUTERS
They are most powerful and expensive.
They have extremely large storage capacities
and processing speed is at least 10 times
faster than other computers. They are big
machines, Inside super computers, they are
several smaller computers, each of which can
work on different parts of a work
simultaneously. It can calculate about 400
million numbers every second, and result is
always exactly correct.
SUPER COMPUTERS
 Computer Capabilities
1. Ability to perform certain logic
operation
2. Ability to provide new time dimensions
3. Ability to store and retrieve information
4. Ability to control error
5. Ability to check itself
Computer Limitations
1. Dependence on prepared
instructions
2. Inability to derive meanings from
object
3. Inability to generate information
4. It cannot correct wrong instructions
 Why Computer Sometimes Fail?
1. Input errors
2. Error in instructing a computer
3. The communication gap
4. Improper controls
5. Lack of standards
6. Lack of Adequate
The Computer System
Each computer installation consists of a
series of devices that together operate as an
integrated unit or computer system, such a
system typically consist of four (4) types of
functional units.
1. Central Processing Unit
2. Input Unit
3. Output Unit
4. Auxiliary or Secondary Storage Unit
 Arithmetic
and Logic
Unit
Memory
Unit
INPUT OUTPUT
Register

Control Unit

Central Processing Unit

Basic Component of Digital Computer System

 AUXILIARY
STORAGE UNIT

INPUT UNIT CENTRAL OUTPUT UNIT

PROCESSING UNIT
Computer Configuration
- the collection of all peripheral
equipment

Central Processing Unit

- all operation by the computer
system are controlled by this physical
device.
- BRAIN of the computer
Central Processing Unit
Central Processing Unit
Control Unit
- supervises or monitor the functions
performed by the entire computer system
according to conditions set forth by the stored
program
- it fetches instruction of the stored program
from main storage and interprets them
- it the generates signals and commands that
cause other system units to perform certain
operations at appropriate times
Arithmetic/Logic Unit
- arithmetic operations

Memory Unit
- like an electronic filing cabinet capable of
holding data or instructions
- it is where the computer program and data
are stored during processing
- this unit is a random-access storage device
consisting of thousands of storage location, each
of which can be directly reached by control unit
 - with unique address for CPU to easily
locate data instructions needed
- compared to post office

Registers
- used to store data and instructions inside
the processor.
 Operations performed by the CPU
1. INPUT OPERATION
- an input operation is one that
signals an input device to read data, it
automatically transmits that data to the CPU
- each program provides an area
computer storage within the CPU to hold an
input record.
2. PROCESSING OPERATION
- data transfer operation can move
data from the input area to the output area in
order for the information to be written
- it must appear in an output area
which the CPU that is set up by each program

3. OUTPUT OPERATION
- written or recorded
Speed of CPUs.
• The speed of CPUs is measured in hertz.
• A hertz is on cycle per second.
• Need to measure time to determine cycles
per second.
• Today, many CPUs can complete over six
instructions per second.
• Speed of modern CPUs.
• Most computers have a CPU that can do
more than 400MHz.
• Computers will soon be at speeds of over a
gigahertz, 1,000,000,000 Hertzs.
Measurement of Speed – MIPS and MHZ
An electronic device like computer that
provides a series of pulses at extremely
regular intervals of time. The interval
between successive pulses i.e. their rate of
repetition, is known as the clock speed.
In computers the clock rate is
measured in Mega Hertz (MHz), i.e. there
are at least one million pulses per second.
Now-a-days computers come with still
stunning clock speed of Giga Hertz(GHz)
 MIPS - short form of millions of
instructions per second.
The execution speed of computer is
measured in terms of MOPS.

For example, 0.5 MIPS is 500000

instructions per second. High speed
computers and workstation perform at 200
MIPS and even higher.
Computer Measurement Units
Memory or storage Capacity Measurement
We come across different measuring units
like kilogram, meter, and liter and so on to
measure weight, length and capacity or
volumes of different commodities. Similarly,
when we have to measure the capacity of
computer’s memory, storage devices and
length of programs, units like kilogram, meter,
and liter cannot be used. Hence, we use the
units like BIT, NIBBLE,BYTE, and WORD.
BIT
- is an abbreviation of the words Binary
Digit and is the smallest unit of information.
- It is either ‘0’ or ‘1’. The raw data fed into
the computer are first converted into an
electrical pulses or BITS, as the computer do
not recognize the general from of data like
numbers (0-9), alphabets (a-z or A-Z) and
special character like punctuation marks and
arithmetical signs.
 - the 0 to 1 of the binary system
corresponds to the ON and OFF of the flow of
electricity in the computer’s circuits.
- computer works by recognizing the
presence or absence of an electrical pulses of
BITS at a particular time.
NIBBLE
- is a string of four (4) Decimal BCD
Digit 8421
BITS. 0 0000

- the earliest form of 1

2
0001
0010
code, called Binary 3 0011

Coded Decimal (BCD) 4

5
0100
0101
used a NIBBLE for every 6 0110

characters. 7 0111
8 1000
9 1001
BYTE
- it is the unit of measuring computer’s
memory and size of a program.
- one BYTE is the string of eight (8) binary
digits (BITS). It may represent a single letter,
numeral or other characters.
- Computer memory is expressed in terms
of BYTES, KLOBYTES,MEGABYTES GIGABYTES
and TERABYTES.
Conversion
8 BITS = 1 BYTE
1024 BYTES = 1 KILOBYTE(KB)
1024 KB = 1 MEGABYTE (MB)
1024 MB = 1 GIGABYTE (GB)
1024 GB = 1 TERABYTE
BYTE
- a ‘’Kilo’ should mean 10^3(10*10*10)
that is 1000 bytes. However, since the
computer uses Binary System and 2 ^10( i.e.
2*2*2*2*2*2*2*2*2*2) equals to 1024 bytes
which is nearly 1000 bytes.
Hence, ‘Kilo’ refers to 1024 in measuring
units of computer.
WORD
- a computer word is defined in terms of bytes
of bytes.
- a word may be formed by combining two or
more bytes. The most common combination is of
four bytes. Word-length is a length of bits that
occupy one location in memory.
- a computer having a smaller word-length is
slower that another having a larger word-length
is, though the speed of both is same. Word-
length is generally fixed for a computer.
 - But some computers have a changeable
word-length i.e. they can be used in doing
small or big tasks.
- Now a- days computers have word-length
of 16,32,48,64,128 or even more bits.
Classification Based on Brand
Computer are classified in terms of Brand
also. Many companies are involved in
manufacturing of computer throughout the
world. Many brands of computers are
available in the market. On the basis of brand
the following three categories are available.
1. IBM
2. IBM Compatibles
3. APPLE/Macintosh
IBM PC (International Business
Machine Personal Computer)
IBM is one of the leading companies of the world
in manufacturing computers, which established in
1924 in USA. In the beginning. IBM manufactured
mainframe computers followed by mini and
microcomputers. The computers manufactured by
IBM are called as IBM computers or IBM brand
computers. Personal computer (PC) is the most
important type of microcomputer. The
microcomputers manufactured by IBM company are
called as IBM PC. These computers are more reliable,
durable and have better quality and the cost
originally was very high but now-a-days the cost has
gone down.
IBM Compatibles
A computer that has the same
functional characteristics and the principles of
IBM computers are called as IBM compatibles.
The basic architecture is similar to IBM PC
excepting few technologies. All the software and
program, which run in IBM computers, can
equally run in IBM compatibles. IBM compatible
computers are cheaper and their parts are easily
available in the market. Therefore, they are
popular in the world. Most of the
microcomputers used in Nepal are IBM
APPLE/Macintosh Computers
The computer manufactured by Apple
company with different architecture is called as
Apple or Macintosh computer. This company was
established in USA in 1970s. The Apple computers
have their own software and hardware. These
computers are in some way different from IBM
computers and the software used in Apple
computers does run in IBM computers. Apple
company manufactured new brand of computers
popularly known as Macintosh. In Nepal, most of
the desktop publishing houses use
Apple/Macintosh because they are very easy to
handle and the graphic print that we get is of
better quality.
Classification of Computers
Based on the Operating System
An operating system (OS) is a collection of software
that manages computer hardware resources and
provides common services for computer programs.
The operating system is a vital component of the
system software in a computer system. Application
programs require an operating system to function.

Examples of popular modern operating systems include

Android, BSD, iOS, Linux, Mac OS X, Microsoft
Windows, Windows Phone, and IBM z/OS. All these,
except Windows and iOS, share roots in UNIX.
Mac OS X
- OS X is a line of open core graphical
operating systems developed, marketed, and sold
by Apple Inc. The latest of which is pre-loaded on
all currently shipping Macintosh computers. Mac
OS X is the successor to the original Mac OS,
which had been Apple's primary operating
system since 1984.
Unlike its predecessor, Mac OS X is a UNIX
operating system built on technology that had
been developed at NeXT through the second half
of the 1980s and up until Apple purchased the
company in early 1997.
MAC OS X (Mac OS Lion Preview)
LINUX
Linux (or GNU/Linux) is a Unix-like operating
system that was developed without any actual
Unix code, unlike BSD and its variants. Linux can
be used on a wide range of devices from
supercomputers to wristwatches.
The Linux Kernel is released under an open
source license, so anyone can read and modify its
code. It has been modified to run on a large
variety of electronics.
LINUX
Linux has superseded Unix in most places
and is used on the 10 most powerful
supercomputers in the world. The Linux kernel
is used in some popular distributions, such as
Red Hat, Debian, Ubuntu, Linux Mint and
Google's Android.
Andriod uses the Linux
Kernel

Ubantu, Desktop Linux Distribution

Google Chrome OS
Chrome is an operating system based
on the Linux kernel and designed by Google.
Since Chrome OS targets computer users who
spend most of their time on the Internet, it is
mainly a web browser with no ability to run
applications. It relies on Internet applications
(or Web apps) used in the web browser to
accomplish tasks such as word processing and
media viewing, as well as online storage for
storing most files.
Google Chrome OS
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a family of
proprietary operating systems designed by
Microsoft Corporation and primarily targeted
to Intel architecture based computers, with an
estimated 88.9 percent total usage share on
Web connected computers.
The newest version is Windows 7 for
workstations and Windows Server 2008 R2 for
servers. Windows 7 recently overtook
Windows XP as most used OS.
Microsoft Windows
Personal Computer Configuration
• Operating system
Windows 7 Ultimate [64-bit]
• Processor
3rd Generation Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3770
quad-core processor [3.4GHz, 8MB Shared Cache]
• Memory
16GB DDR3-1333MHz SDRAM [4 DIMMs]
• Hard drive
256GB Solid State Drive
1TB 7200 rpm SATA hard drive
• Graphics
2GB DDR3 AMD Radeon HD 7570 [DVI, HDMI, DP &
VGA via adapter]
• Optical drive
SuperMulti DVD Burner
• Secondary optical drive
Blu-ray writer & SuperMulti DVD burner
• Keyboard & Mouse
HP backlit Beats keyboard & optical mouse
• Networking
Premium Wireless-N LAN card and
Bluetooth(R)(2x2)
Integrated 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN
• Ports
15-in-1 memory card reader, 2 USB 2.0
(front), 2 USB 3.0 (top)
1 MiniCard; 1 PCI-Express x16; 3 PCI-
Express x1
• Display
17 inch 1080p display
• External specs
• Keyboard & mouse
Premium HP keyboard and optical mouse
• Audio
Beats audio
No TV Tuner
TV tuner, ATSC-NTSC with PVR, remote
• Sound card
Beats Audio (tm) -- integrated studio
quality sound
• Software included
Norton Internet Security 2012
COMPUTER STORAGE DEVICES
Types of Storage Devices
1. Floppy Drive 8. Tape Drive
2. Super Drive 9. NAS – Network Attachment Storage
3. Zip Drive 10. SAN – Storage Area Network
4. CD Burner
5. DVD Burner
6. Hard Drive
7. Flash Drive
Floppy Drive
The smallest and most portable of all the
storage devices usually holds about 1.44 MB
of storage. Use a floppy disk media.
Super Drive
The LS120 or SuperDisk is a drive which
supports a special floppy diskette which can
store up to 120MB or 240MB of information
as well as being backwards compatible and
still supporting the standard floppy diskettes.
Zip Drive
New generation similar to the floppy disk
drive created by Iomega The Iomega Zip Drive
was first released 1994 and today is becoming
a popular solution for PC and Macintosh
computers as a removable solution. Zip Drives
Disks come in 100MB, 250MB and 750MB
CD Burner
An optical storage device that holds data
anywhere from 650MB to 700MB (74-80
minutes)
DVD Burner
A newer optical storage device that holds
data anywhere from 4.70-17.08GB
DVD Capacity
DVD-5 4.7GB (2 hours)
DVD-9 8.54GB (4 hours)
DVD-10 9.4GB (4.5 hours)
DVD-18 17.08GB (8 hours)
Newest DVD format
Blu-Ray DVD 25-50GB
HD-DVD 15-30GB
Hard Drive
A hard drive is usually built inside your
computer and holds anywhere from 1GB to
4TB of capacity. There are three types of
internal hard drives are PATA, SATA and SCSI.
External hard drives comes in USB, Firewire,
SATA and SCSI.
Flash Drive
A compact and portable device use for
storing data anywhere from 128MB up to 4GB.
Tape Drive
Allow large companies as well as end users
to backup large amounts of data. Tape drives
are capable of backing up a couple hundred
megabytes to several gigabytes of information
without having to spend large sums of money
on disks.
Tape Drive Standards
8mm Tape Drive - Manufactured and available
through Exabyte 8mm tapes are similar to what
are used in camcorder. 8mm tapes are a faster
solution then the DAT and transfer up to 6M/Sec.
While the tapes are similar to camcorder tapes it
is recommended that to backup information you
use 8mm tapes designed for your drive.
DAT (Digital Audio Tape) - Digital Audio Tape is
primarily developed and marketed by Hewlett-
Packard. DAT drives use two types of data
formats DDS (Digital Data Storage) and DataDAT.
DDS Drives are available in three types DDS-
1/2/3. (36-72GB)
DLT (Digital Linear Tape) - DLT drives are a robust
and durable medium. The DLT segments the tape
into parallel horizontal tracks and records data by
streaming the tape across a single stationary
head. Released in 1991 DLT drives are very
reliable, high-speed, and high-capacity making
the DLT drives an excellent use for Network
backups. (330-600GB)
AIT - Advance Intelligent Tapes (100-260GB)
Travan- (8GB-20GB)
LTO-Linear Tape Open (200-400GB)
Advance Storage
NAS -Network Attachment Storage
SAN- Storage Area Network
INPUT DEVICES
OUTPUT DEVICES
System Unit